The Oklahoma City Traffic Commission voted on Jan. 23 to approve business licenses for app-dispatched ride services Uber and Lyft.
These services enable customers to use an app to request a private car and then pay for the transit on their smartphone, similar to a taxi service.
Gary Jones, Oklahoma Christian University multicultural and service learning coordinator, has used Uber while in Atlanta.
“We didn’t have to worry about parking; we didn’t have to worry about traffic or anything like that,” Jones said. “In fact, we didn’t even have to worry about paying because the monthly subscription paid for it.”
Services like Lyft and Uber could help college students without cars get around town.
“I would be interested to see if maybe Uber has a discount for students or if they’re willing to do some sort of deal for students, so they can use the service more,” Jones said. “Another area I think Uber would be beneficial for college students is something as simple as going to the airport or the train station for those times, either where you’re trying to leave campus or get back to campus for break.”
Jones said in a city the size of Oklahoma City, Uber could easily appeal to the college market.
“We’re not as big as New York City, Chicago or Atlanta where you would have as much business outside of college campuses,” Jones said. “I think if they’re smart, maybe they would develop something that would be beneficial to OC and UCO and OCU, and all of the various campuses within this short range.”
Sophomore Camerin Roberts said she would use Uber and Lyft if the price was reasonable, but usually doesn’t see the need for it because she has alternate means of transportation.
“If I was really desperate — I would use the service, but because I have friends who have cars I wouldn’t use it,” Roberts said.
Other students without cars said this service is good for them to have around.
“I do not have a car right now and I like to go around sometimes,” Senior Diane Uwacu said. “Sometimes my friends are busy or they are with other students, so I’d like to take a cab sometimes.”
The car service that Oklahoma Christian provides for the international students takes them to the store once a week and other trips once a month, but does not provide daily transportation.
“I don’t think that Oklahoma City or Edmond has enough cabs,” Uwacu said. “More than once I’ve wanted to go somewhere in 30 minutes and in that time they’ll call me and say they couldn’t find a cab for me. So, having an Uber service where it’s more cars in the population, more cars that can come and help people out, I think that would be good.”
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